census
Americannoun
-
an official enumeration of the population, with details as to age, sex or gender, occupation, etc.
-
(in ancient Rome) the registration of citizens and their property, for purposes of taxation.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
an official periodic count of a population including such information as sex, age, occupation, etc
-
any offical count
a traffic census
-
(in ancient Rome) a registration of the population and a property evaluation for purposes of taxation
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of census
First recorded in 1605–15; from Latin: “a listing and property assessment of citizens,” equivalent to cēns(ēre) “to assess, register (citizens) in a census” + -tus suffix of verb action; for -s- in place of -st- see censor
Explanation
If you live in the U.S., every ten years you'll participate in a census, a process for counting people. The information collected is used to plan for schools, transportation, social services people will need, and also for determining congressional districts. On the census form you’ll be asked how many people live in your house, their ages, and ethnic and racial backgrounds. With this, the government can plan facilities and also track population trends — whether cities are growing or shrinking, what ethnic groups make up our population, and where they live. We get the word and the idea from the Romans, who registered citizens and their property so they could be taxed. The first U.S. census was held in 1790.
Vocabulary lists containing census
Electoral Elocution: The Verbiage of Voting
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Constitution of the United States
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Human Geography - Middle School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Times compared those results with Census data for its analysis.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
Richland Parish has about 20,000 residents, according to the most recent Census count, and its population had been declining before signing the Meta data-center project.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
In 2025, the U.S. experienced negative net migration for the first time in over 50 years, with an estimated net loss of between 150,000 and nearly 300,000 people, according External link to the Census Bureau.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
The Trustees also may update their long-term forecast and fertility expectations in the new report, but it’s unclear whether they will adhere to the CBO and Census Bureau forecasts, Boccia said.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 1, 2026
Under the usual-residence rule, the Census Bureau counts imprisoned individuals as residents of the jurisdiction in which they are incarcerated.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
